Günter Grass, Die Blechtrommel: Roman [The Tin Drum]

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Günter Grass’s first novel

Die Blechtrommel

[

The Tin Drum

]is one of the most powerful and enduring masterpieces of twentieth-century literature. Its audacious fusion of the individual, the historical, the mythical and the fantastical results in a rich, multi-layered narrative characterised by an exuberant use of language and dark, satirical humour.

The Tin Drum

is also one of the earliest works of post-war German literature to offer a searing indictment of the involvement of ordinary Germans in Hitler’s National Socialist regime and of their reluctance to address issues of guilt in the post-war era. The novel was published in 1959 to rapturous critical acclaim, but also generated significant controversy due to its apparent blasphemy and earthy eroticism. This divided response was…

3253 words

Citation: Hall, Katharina. "Die Blechtrommel: Roman". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 09 August 2004 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=5610, accessed 19 March 2024.]

5610 Die Blechtrommel: Roman 3 Historical context notes are intended to give basic and preliminary information on a topic. In some cases they will be expanded into longer entries as the Literary Encyclopedia evolves.

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